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Hotels in the fall into many different categories, a few of which are family friendly, road stop, and upscale. A family friendly hotel caters to the little ones, or to families as a whole, some may have a special theme like a dinosaur hotel or maybe just branding with a cute character or proximity to a local attraction like Disney World. Activities are sometimes included as are day care for when a little mommy/daddy time is needed, fun scheduled events, and character visits. When looking for this kind of hotel, it is best to find clean accommodations and a friendly, attentive staff in a safe area where worries melt away.
A road stop hotel is just a place to stay for the night. Little more then a bed and a roof are expected. Some times these hotels fall short of expectations, but with the right research pleasant surprises await. In regard to accommodations, they could be lacking but will make up for that, hopefully, in cost and distance to the highway. The best bet when taking a road trip is planning ahead for big stops and trying to pick as many of your hotels in advance as possible. That way, you can do some research and find the best values.
Upscale hotels tend to cater to adult clients. Rooms with gorgeous views, plush pillows, internet in every room, work out room, nice furniture, etc. An example of one of these hotels is the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Road stop and upscale are polar opposites, so expect to pay a premium for amazing service and attention to detail.
The most important tip for finding a hotel is research. Ask real people who have been in the area and if that isn’t available. Look around online. Do some leg work and pick that perfect room for the night.
The first thing I consider is the reason for my travel. Second is safety and my traveling companions. Then comes price. If I am traveling for business, then I really just need a clean, safe place to stay in proximity to my venue that provides relative comfort and some commodities. If I am traveling for leisure, I am looking for an experience and that definitely changes everything. I want comfort, proximity to culture, restaurants, attractions – but still enough distance to be able to withdraw and recharge. I want cleanliness, some pampering and my kids require an indoor pool. I like room service, free parking and shuttles, plus access to local transportation hubs. I’m serious about hotel selection. I read reviews in several different locations, and if it is not a major chain I check on chain or individual ownership. Oh, I have a long list.
The rare times I stay in a hotel, the FIRST thing I look at is price. I’m not interested in paying $200 a night for a hotel, and I don’t care WHERE it is.
If I have to, I can live without wifi and pay movie channels. I can live without a stocked refrigerator or a king-size bed.
I don’t care much about a view, since if I’m going somewhere on vacation, I want to see those views in person rather than through a hotel window.
Friendly service is a given. A decent breakfast is always a plus. Oh, yeah: no bedbugs.